What's Money If You Don't Have Your Health?

Posted By
Stabinski & Funt, P.A.

A recent study confirmed the widely-held assumption that young male drivers
pay far higher monthly car insurance premiums than young women and older
drivers of either gender.
The insurance industry maintains there’s data to substantiate the claim that young men
are riskier drivers that get more tickets and are involved in more accidents,
which means they are, on average, more expensive to insure.
Turns out that although they pay higher rates, young male drivers may have
a more important advantage over the rest of the population -- survivability.

Survivability & Head-On Vehicle Collisions

Consider the findings of a 2014 study that examined risk factors associated with drivers' survival in head-on
vehicle collisions. Conducted by a doctoral student at the Indiana University-Purdue
University Indianapolis (IUPUI), the results showed that the drivers’
chance of survival was increased by being younger and being a male, as
well as driving a vehicle with a higher mass, driving a newer vehicle,
using a seatbelt and having the airbag deployed in the crash. It determined
that 21 percent of the people involved in head-on collisions were young
people between the ages of 15 and 24, which was more than any other age
group, yet their 39 percent rate of death was the lowest among all age groups.

The question of why women were more likely than men to die in head-on collisions
was deferred by this study to medical trauma experts.
An earlier study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) speculated
that one reason was because young men (those in the 21 to 30 age group)
tend to be larger and stronger than women, and thus more likely to survive
crash injuries. This same 2013 study further determined that after age
35, the advantage faded and by age 70, the risk of dying in a car accident
was about equal between the genders.

Bigger = Safer?

The IUPUI study also examined vehicle inequity, including factors such
as weight, height and rigidity. With other variables being equal, the
study concluded that drivers of cars were 17 times more likely to die
in a head-on accident compared to the drivers of light trucks and 9 times
more likely than SUV drivers. The thought is that because cars generally
are smaller and weigh less than pickup trucks and SUVs, they are at a
disadvantage in collisions with heavier vehicles. Less structure and size
to absorb crash energy means higher crash forces on occupants. Heavier
vehicles tend to make out better in some single-vehicle crashes because
they are more likely to bend or move objects they hit.
The tall profile of SUVs may also be advantageous because they are less
likely to go under another vehicle in a collision, and because sitting higher means occupants are less likely to have head
and chest injuries in crashes with shorter vehicles due to the lower point
of impact.

A Dubious #1

Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of unintentional death
worldwide. The NHTSA reports that in 2012, there were 5,419,000 police-reported
motor vehicle traffic crashes that killed over 33,500 people.
Here in Florida, there were approximately 340,667 crashes last year resulting in 223,452
injuries and 2,542 fatalities. In fact, we consistently rank in the
top five deadliest states in the nation for traffic fatalities.

No matter your age, gender or vehicle size, if you have been in an auto
crash, the
Miami car accident attorneys at Stabinski & Funt, P.A. can help. For 45 years, we have been the
trusted advocates for countless traffic collision victims and their families
throughout South Florida. We offer risk-free consultations and work on
a contingency basis, which means that we do not require you to pay any
fees until we have secured a recovery on your behalf. If you have any
questions about this topic, feel free to contact us by calling (305) 964-8644
or filling out a
free case evaluation form.

DISCLAIMER: The information about past verdicts and settlements is based on the unique
facts of each case. Every case is different, and future cases may not
achieve the same or similar results. These amounts reflect the gross recovery
(before attorneys’ fees and expenses are deducted).

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